Family Time

Good times, right? When I was growing up, it was always stressful. Well, when everyone was due at our house it was. Everything had to be perfect in my dad’s eyes. The house, the food, the presents, the liquor cabinet, the decorations (Christmas was traditionally held at our home). When stress descended upon my father, it came out in his Italian (or Polish? I don’t know which) temper. I remember thinking I wish everyone was here already so daddy would calm down.

As a child, I had a great, happy time. I loved getting kissed and hugged, I loved all the laughing, smiling, playing and sneaking all the pickles and cheese we could grab without the moms noticing that’s all we were eating. It was just plain fun. Until we grew up. Then tensions started to grow. Uncle So & So did what? Aunt Who Ha went where?! Oh my! How could they do that? Why are they like that? I would NEVER do that!!!!! Actions and emotions began to creep in and stereotypes begin to fester. We had to learn to pretend we didn’t know about that tidbit of information.

Yesterday, we had Family Time for my husband’s 49th birthday. Even though I did experience a tinge of stress of making everything perfect, I tried not to stress over it, knowing I would be forgiven by my guests. I just cannot emphasize what a great time it was. We laughed, really laughed, like really hard, belly laughs. We ate really good food. We swam in the pool together. We joked. We talked about what was going on in our lives, our jobs, different things that had happened in our time apart, and just things in general. We didn’t have any attitudes, bad feelings, built up feelings or bad feelings toward each other, it was genuinely a perfect day. I can’t remember the last time I felt so much love. I only wished my daughter was there, I missed her because she was at work.

It is a cliché’ to say enjoy family time because everything may change in an instant especially in today’s world, but really, please do. The world needs more love today, more family time, more wonderful times that we can remember. Let’s forget the bad things and remember the good. Shout out to Shayna, Shayne, and Sam for making it a perfect day!